Ninja Creami Pistachio Ice Cream (Protein Recipe)
This Ninja Creami pistachio ice cream is nutty, creamy, and naturally green, made with pistachio pudding mix, vanilla protein powder, and real chopped pistachios. High in protein, ready after one overnight freeze.
Pistachio is the flavor I always order and can almost never find done well, so I made my own Ninja Creami version and now it lives in my freezer.
Ninja Creami pistachio ice cream is a high-protein frozen dessert made with Fairlife milk, vanilla protein powder, instant pistachio pudding mix, and chopped pistachios. The pudding mix carries the pistachio flavor and keeps the base creamy, the protein powder does the heavy lifting on protein, and the chopped pistachios mixed in at the end give you that real nutty crunch. Each pint comes in around 43g of protein.
You mix the base in about five minutes, freeze it overnight, and let the Creami spin it smooth.
More Creami pints if you want them: my Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream, my Salted Chocolate Protein Ice Cream, and my 10 Ninja Creami Tips for getting every pint creamy.
Why You’ll Love This Pistachio Ice Cream
- It scratches the pistachio gelato itch without a trip to the scoop shop, or the sugar that comes with it.
- A whole pint has 43g of protein, so it works as a post-workout treat or a dessert that does not wreck your day.
- It turns green on its own from the pudding mix, so you get the classic pistachio look with no food coloring.
Ingredients You Need For Pistachio Ice Cream
You only need a handful of things. The exact measurements, nutrition info, and full recipe are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Fairlife skim milk. Higher in protein than regular milk, which is part of how this pint hits its count. 2% or whole milk make it creamier, and any milk works.
- Unsweetened almond milk. Thins the base so it spins smooth. Cashew, coconut, or oat milk all work here.
- Vanilla protein powder. Most of the protein and a neutral base that lets the pistachio come through. I use 1UP Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream Isolate, which is easy on sensitive stomachs, and code BAILS gets you 20% off.
- Instant pistachio pudding mix. Does double duty. It carries the pistachio flavor and keeps the base creamy instead of icy.
- Sweetener of choice. The pudding mix already brings some sweetness, so add to taste.
- Raw pistachios. Chopped and mixed in at the end for the real nutty crunch.
- Optional add-ins. A splash of heavy cream for richness, or chocolate chips on the mix-in.
How To Make Pistachio Ice Cream
- Add the Fairlife milk, almond milk, protein powder, pistachio pudding mix, and sweetener to your Ninja Creami pint, filling to the max line. Mix well with a handheld frother until smooth.
- Freeze the pint flat for 24 hours, until it is solid all the way through.
- Take the frozen pint out and run the bottom under hot water for about 60 seconds. Lock it into the machine, keeping the top of the base level so you do not damage the blade.
- Run it on the Lite Ice Cream setting for the first spin. Pop the lid. If it looks powdery or crumbly, put it back and hit Re-spin.
- Check the texture. You want creamy and smooth. If it is still dry, add a tablespoon of milk and Re-spin until it gets there.
- Dig a well in the center, add your chopped pistachios, and run the Mix-In setting to fold them through. Scoop and eat.
Tips For The Best Pistachio Pint
- Chop the pistachios before they go in. The Mix-In setting spreads pieces around but does not break them down, so chop them to bite-size first or you end up with whole nuts in some scoops and none in others.
- Add a few drops of almond extract if you want a stronger pistachio punch. Pistachio and almond share a similar nutty note, so a little almond extract reads as deeper pistachio.
- Freeze the pint level. A base that freezes on a tilt spins unevenly and can wear on the machine, so keep it flat on a freezer shelf.
- Blend the base completely smooth before freezing. Any lumps now turn into icy spots later, so give it a few extra seconds with the frother.
Storing And Making It Ahead
Ninja Creami pints are best right out of the spin, when the texture is soft serve. For leftovers, smooth the top flat with the back of a spoon, lid it, and freeze. It firms up hard, so run it back through a quick Re-spin with a splash of milk to bring it back to creamy. The base also keeps frozen and un-spun for a few weeks, so I mix up two or three pints at once and spin them fresh whenever I want one.
Variations
- Pistachio cherry. Add chopped frozen cherries on the Mix-In setting for a pistachio-cherry pint.
- Pistachio white chocolate. Fold in chopped white chocolate with the pistachios for a sweeter, richer scoop.
- Extra nutty. Stir a spoon of pistachio butter into the base before freezing for a deeper pistachio flavor all the way through.
Pistachio Ice Cream FAQ
Is this pistachio ice cream gluten free?
The base is. Pistachio pudding mix, protein powder, milk, and pistachios are all naturally gluten free, so as long as your pudding mix and protein powder are certified gluten free, this pint is too.
Can I use real pistachios instead of pudding mix for the flavor?
The pudding mix carries the pistachio flavor and the green color through the whole base, which real chopped pistachios alone cannot do. The chopped pistachios add crunch and a fresh nutty bite on top of that, so the two work together rather than one replacing the other.
Why is my Ninja Creami pistachio ice cream crumbly?
That is normal after the first spin. Add a tablespoon of milk, hit Re-spin, and it turns creamy. A fully frozen, level pint also helps it spin smooth the first time.
Ninja Creami Pistachio Ice Cream (Protein Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fairlife skim milk
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tbsp sugar-free pistachio jello mix
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp powdered monk fruit sweetener
- 2 tbsp raw pistachios
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except pistachios to the ninja creami pint container up to the max fill line and mix well with hand held frother.
- Freeze container for 24 hours until frozen solid.
- Remove frozen pint, run under hot water for 60 seconds and install into your machine.
- For the first spin, press lite Ice Cream button. Remove the outer bowl lid. If ice cream is still powdery, then add back to machine and press respin button.
- Check ice cream. The final product should be creamy and have a smooth texture. If your desired consistency isn’t reached you can add a bit more liquid and spin again on the respin setting.
- Add your pistachio pieces and mix again using the “mix-in” button. Enjoy!
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.
More Protein Ninja Creami Recipes
- Ninja Creami Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
- Banana Ice Cream
- Biscoff Protein Ice Cream
- Birthday Cake Ice Cream In The Ninja Creami
- Protein Vanilla Ice Cream
If you make this Ninja Creami pistachio ice cream, leave a star rating and a comment below and tell me how nutty you took it. And if you share a pint, tag me @basicswithbails on Instagram or pin it to save for later. I love seeing your Creami flavors.
About Bailey
I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…
Crazy question, but why use milk + plant based milk? Does it improve the texture, flavor, or macros?
Hi Alex, I use the Fairlife protein milk to increase the protein content, and the unsweetened almond milk for less calories and to make the ice cream go further. It’s not completely necessary, you can definitely use all Fairlife milk or almond milk, just my personal preference for macros!